Best Pencils For Standardized Tests?

[ZacharyMD]

I take scantron tests quite often. In fact, at my college, I take at least one quiz or test involving scantron answering every day which leads me to my question. What, based on your experience, is/are the absolute best Pencil(s) for taking standardized and scantron-based tests? Generally, I use mechanical pencils with .5mm lead. While these work decently well, the lack of thickness in the lead often leads to unnecessary efforts to fill-in the bubble fully. With finals approaching soon enough for some, I'm asking the question for all of us. Thanks in advance for all helpful and insightful comments.

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[njbmd]

I take scantron tests quite often. In fact, at my college, I take at least one quiz or test involving scantron answering every day which leads me to my question. What, based on your experience, is/are the absolute best Pencil(s) for taking standardized and scantron-based tests? Generally, I use mechanical pencils with .5mm lead. While these work decently well, the lack of thickness in the lead often leads to unnecessary efforts to fill-in the bubble fully. With MCAT tests approaching soon enough for some, I'm asking the question for all of us. Thanks in advance for all helpful and insightful comments.

A #2 pencil with an excellent eraser is all that you need. A #1 pencil is too soft and the #3s are too hard. Most students get into trouble because they do not erase thoroughly and the Scantron picks up the poorly erased answer and marks the question "incorrect" because it detects two answers.

USMLE, GRE and MCAT are all computerized as are many tests in medical schools so no more Scantrons! or bubbled answer sheets!!

 

[RPedigo]

Yeah, you don't need it anymore so I'd just bring whatever writing utensil suits you best. If you do use a scantron test, make sure you get a Magic Rub eraser-- it obliterates any graphite that you leave on the page... no accidental scantron errors.

 

[87138]

A nice, standard wooden #2 pencil with a good eraser, complimented by a magic rub eraser.

Using a skinny mechanical pencil, in my opinion, makes it SLIGHTLY more difficult/time consuming to fill in a blank. Yes, that's being anal, but it can add up after 77 questions . . .